Champion Of Children Award Dinner Co-Chairs Janice and Richard Davis, Hannah and Greg May, Virginia and Edward Schaefer had a lot to celebrate at the event’s patron party on Monday, November 4, at Samuel Lynne Galleries. In addition to having Mayor Eric Johnson and his wife Nakita Johnson as honorary co-chairs and Jessica and Dirk Nowitzki receiving the Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award, the Dallas CASA fundraiser on Thursday, November 14, at the Omni Dallas Hotel had already sold out! Here’s a report from the field:
The rooms at Samuel Lynne Galleries on Dragon Street were full of buzz and excitement Monday night at Dallas CASA’s patron party for the Champion of Children Award Dinner.
More than 80 guests mingled, admired art and looked forward to the November 14 dinner benefiting Dallas CASA at the Omni Hotel. At the dinner, Jessica and Dirk Nowitzki will be honored with the Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award for their support of and commitment to vulnerable children in Dallas. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who presided over the trial of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, will be the speaker at the event.
Patron party guests like Priscilla and Corey Anthony, Jonathan Bassham, Margaret Cervin, Ardo Fuentes, Retta Miller, Steve Penrose, Bob Schleckser, Megan Sterquell, Therese Stevenson and Linda Swartz were able to view artwork by gallery owner JD Miller as they sampled appetizers on display including mini caprese skewers and baked fingerling potatoes with crème fraiche and caviar. Passed appetizers included chicken satay and pork tenderloin crostini. Wine was donated by Gerard Bertrand. The party served as a thank you to Dallas CASA’s supporters, including platinum sponsors Exxon Mobil Corporation, Pioneer Natural Resources with Fran and Mark Berg, Bill Smith, Jim Thompson and crystal sponsors Citi, Crest Cadillac / Crest Infiniti / Crest Volvo with Jana and Mike Brosin, Linda and Rob Swartz and Varidesk.
Dallas CASA’s more than 1,400 volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children who have been removed from home and placed in the protective care of the state. In 2018, 3,332 children had a Dallas CASA volunteer by their sides as they navigated a complex and frightening child welfare system. Funds raised from the dinner will help recruit and train more volunteer advocates to serve more children.
Co-chairs of the Champion of Children Award dinner are Janice and Richard Davis, Hannah and Greg May, Virginia and Edward Schaefer. Honorary chairs of the dinner are Nakita Johnson and Mayor Eric Johnson.
“Dallas CASA volunteers have the gift of time, and the children we serve are the greatest beneficiaries,” Hannah May shared with the patron party crowd. “Our volunteers are often the only consistent adults in the lives of these children during their time in foster care.”
* Photo provided by Dallas CASA